Soldering-iron



Patented Jan. 25,1881.

0. E. BALL. Soldering Iron.-

. \13 m J F I f z ///A 3 (No Model.)

[NVE/VTOR ATTORNEYj? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFER.

CHARLES E. BALL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOLDERlNG-IRON.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 236,972, dated January 25, -1881.

Application filed December 13, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Soldering-Irons, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a vertical section of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of my improvement constructed so as to automatically short-circuit the current when the tool is not in use; and Fig. 4 is a section on the line 1 1, Fig. 3.

My invention has for its object to provide a soldering-iron capable of being heated and kept heated while in use by an electric current.

My invention accordingly consists of a soldering-iron so constructed that its point or tip will form part of an electric circuit, and will become heated to any required degree when a proper electric current is transmitted over such circuit, said point or tip being of suitable material, which will become duly heated by reason of the resistance it opposes to such current.

My invention further consists in the peculiar combination of parts forming the tool, and in the combination with such tool of an electric generator.

Referring to the annexed drawings, A indicates the handle of a soldering-iron, of wood or other suitable insulating material, in which are secured two separate copper rods or bars, B B, insulated laterally from each other to their outer extremity, where they form holders for a tip or head, 0. Said tip is formed of platinum or any equivalent material which will become highly heated without fusing by reason of the resistance it opposes to the passage of a sutficient electric current. The proportions of the rods or bars B B to the platinum tip C should be such that the former will freely conduct, without opposing such resistance as would unduly heat them, a current of electricity sufficient to render said tip incandescent.

D represents a battery, for which any other suitable generator-such as a dynamo-electric machinemay be substituted; and E E are conducting-wires leading from said generator to binding-posts a a on the handle A, and in circuit with the bars B B.

The operation is simple and obvious: Electric connection being duly made between the generator and tool, the tip of the latter becomes heated, and remains so as long as the current circulates. The tool can thus be kept in constant use at a uniform temperature, and as a very high heat may be communicated to it, it can be used for purposes where irons heated by ordinary means are inoperative. For example, it will melt gold and silver hard solder used by jewelers, which heretofore required a blow-pipe to fuse it.

The tool described may be so constructed that when not in actual use the current may be cut off from the tip without disconnecting the conducting-wires from the handle. This may be accomplished in a variety of ways. For example, the handle may be made in two sections F F hin ed to ether as shown in Fig. 3, and a spring, Ur, inserted between the sections in suitable sockets. The spring will tend to separate the sections above the hinge. An arm of metal, H, attached to one of the wires, B, enters a recess in section F, and when the tool is not in use touches the other wire and short-circuits the electric current, so that it does not pass through the tip 0. When the tool is in use and the handle compressed, the arm H no longer touches the wire in section F, and the current circuits through the tip. Another method of accomplishing the same object is by the means shown in Figs. 1 and 2. One of the wires is out at i and bridged by a button, 6, attached to a set-screw, K, entering the side of the handle. Part of this button is made of metal and the rest of hard rubber or other insulating material, so that by turning the screw the cut in the wire may be bridged by either. hen the button is so turned as to make a metallic bridge, the current passes and circuits through the tip. hen so turned as to bridge the cut with the insulator no current passes.

hat I claim as my invention is as follows:

1. A soldering-iron having a tip of platinum or equivalent material, which may be rendered incandescent without fusing by the passage of an electric current, arranged between electric high resistance to the bars or devices which conductors B B, constructed and adapted for support it, and means, substantially as hereinconnection with a battery or other suitable before described,-for short-circuiting the curgenerator. rent out of said tip when the tool is not in use. 5

5 2. In combination with an insulating-han- In testimony that I claim the foregoing I dle, A, bars B B, of copper or other good oonhave hereunto set my hand this 8th day of ductor, and a tip,-G, of platinum or other ma- December, 1880.

terial of relatively high resistance, with means CHAS. E. BALL. of connection with an electric generator, sub- Witnesses: 1o stantially as and for the purpose set forth. SAML. J. VAN STAVOREN, 3. A soldering-iron having a tip of relatively l CHAS. F. VAN HORN. 

